One-piece closure for a container

ABSTRACT

A one-piece closure for a container has a closure body suitable for coupling to the container, a spout portion extending from the closure body and having a spout duct, a cap portion and a breakable membrane joining the spout portion and the cap portion. The cap portion has a plug portion suitable for again closing a dispensing opening of the spout portion, which is exposed as a result of the rupture of the breakable membrane. The cap portion has coupling means suitable for being coupled to the spout portion and/or to the closure body, after the breakable membrane has been ruptured and after the cap portion has been fully separated from the spout portion.

The subject of the present invention is a one-piece break-away closurefor a container usually used to contain liquid, dense or semi-dense foodproducts.

Such containers, such as tubes, pouches and the like, are undergoingenormous development with several hundred million pieces producedannually. Particularly appreciated is their ease of use, mainly due tothe ease of squeezing the container to get the product out.

In this context, the closure of the container acquires particularimportance, and it is essential that the cap ensures sealing duringtransport but may also be easily removed to open the container.

Nevertheless, some problems in the prior art have been noted. Sometimesit is quite difficult to open the cap, and the user often has to rotateand bend the cap repeatedly. Furthermore, in cases wherein the substancecontained in the container is not fully consumed the first time it isused, it is often necessary to be able to close the container again. Inthe case of a careful operator, the operation may seem easy, but itoften happens that the cap for closing the container is lost, with thepreservation of the substance contained consequently compromised.

The object of the present invention is to create a closure thatsatisfies the aforesaid requirements and at the same time overcomes thedrawbacks mentioned with reference to the prior art. In particular, oneof the objects of the present invention is to produce a closure thatallows the cap not to be lost during the use of the container, i.e.during the dispensing of the contained product through the closure, andat the same time not to be a nuisance during dispensing.

Such object is achieved by a closure made according to claim 1. Thedependent claims describe further advantageous embodiments.

The features and advantages of the closure according to the presentinvention will be apparent from the description given below, provided byway of non-limiting example, in accordance with the accompanyingfigures, wherein:

FIG. 1 shows a one-piece closure in accordance with an embodiment of thepresent invention in an intact configuration;

FIG. 1a shows the one-piece closure of FIG. 1 in breakage configuration,i.e. with a cap portion separated from a spout portion, wherein the capportion is coupled and attached securely to a closure body, the latter,for example, suitable to be installed directly on the container to closean access opening to the contents of the container;

FIG. 2 shows a one-piece closure in accordance with a second embodimentof the present invention in an intact configuration;

FIG. 2a shows the one-piece closure of FIG. 2 in breakage configuration,i.e. with a cap portion separated from a spout portion, wherein the capportion is coupled and attached securely to a closure body, the latter,for example, suitable to be installed directly on the container to closean access opening to the contents of the container;

FIG. 2b shows a side view of FIG. 2 a;

FIG. 2c shows a sectional view along the plane V-V of FIG. 2 b;

FIG. 3 shows a one-piece closure in accordance with a third embodimentof the present invention in an intact configuration;

FIG. 3a shows the one-piece closure of FIG. 3 in breakage configuration,i.e. with a cap portion separated from a spout portion, wherein the capportion is coupled and attached securely to the spout portion of theclosure;

FIG. 4 shows a one-piece closure in accordance with a fourth embodimentof the present invention in an intact configuration;

FIG. 4a shows the one-piece closure of FIG. 4 in breakage configuration,i.e. with a cap portion separated from a spout portion, wherein the capportion is coupled and attached securely to the spout portion of theclosure;

FIG. 5 shows a one-piece closure in accordance with a fifth embodimentof the present invention in an intact configuration;

FIG. 5a shows the one-piece closure of FIG. 5 in breakage configuration,i.e. with a cap portion separated from a spout portion, wherein the capportion is coupled and attached securely to the spout portion of theclosure;

FIG. 5b shows a side elevation view of the closure of FIG. 5;

FIG. 5c is a further side elevation view of the closure of FIG. 5,rotated 180° with respect to FIG. 5 b;

FIG. 5d shows a sectional perspective view along the plane AB-AB of FIG.5 b;

FIG. 5e shows an enlargement of a detail AH of FIG. 5 d;

FIG. 5f shows a sectional perspective view along the plane AF-AF of FIG.5 c;

FIG. 5g shows an enlargement of a detail AG of FIG. 5 f;

FIG. 5h shows an axial section along the plane AB-AB of FIG. 5 b;

FIG. 5i shows an axial section along the plane AB-AB of FIG. 5b of theclosure according to the fifth embodiment in the closed configuration,wherein the cap portion is inserted in the spout portion to again closethe closure, for example after the breakage operation has been carriedout, i.e. the breakage configuration of FIG. 5 a.

FIG. 6 shows a one-piece closure in accordance with a sixth embodimentof the present invention in an intact configuration;

FIG. 6a shows the one-piece closure of FIG. 6 in breakage configuration,i.e. with a cap portion separated from a spout portion, wherein the capportion is coupled and attached securely to a closure body, the latter,for example, suitable to be installed directly on the container to closean access opening to the contents of the container;

FIG. 7 shows a one-piece closure in accordance with a seventh embodimentof the present invention in an intact configuration;

FIG. 7a shows the one-piece closure of FIG. 7 in breakage configuration,i.e. with a cap portion separated from a spout portion, wherein the capportion is coupled and attached securely to a closure body, the latter,for example, suitable to be installed directly on the container to closean access opening to the contents of the container;

FIG. 8 shows a one-piece closure in accordance with an eighth embodimentof the present invention in an intact configuration;

FIG. 8a shows the one-piece closure of FIG. 8 in breakage configuration,i.e. with a cap portion separated from a spout portion, wherein the capportion is coupled and attached securely to a closure body, the latter,for example, suitable to be installed directly on the container to closean access opening to the contents of the container;

FIG. 9 shows a one-piece closure in accordance with a ninth embodimentof the present invention in an intact configuration;

FIG. 9a shows the one-piece closure of FIG. 9a in breakageconfiguration, i.e. with a cap portion separated from a spout portion,wherein the cap portion is coupled and attached securely to the spoutportion of the closure;

FIG. 10 shows a one-piece closure in accordance with a tenth embodimentof the present invention in an intact configuration;

FIG. 10a shows the one-piece closure of FIG. 10 in breakageconfiguration, i.e. with a cap portion separated from a spout portion,wherein the cap portion is coupled and attached securely to a closurebody, the latter, for example, suitable to be installed directly on thecontainer to close an access opening to the contents of the container;

FIG. 10b shows a side view of FIG. 10 a;

FIG. 10c shows a sectional view along the plane N-N of FIG. 10 b;

FIG. 10d shows an enlargement of the detail P of FIG. 10 c;

FIG. 11 shows a one-piece closure in accordance with a tenth embodimentof the present invention in an intact configuration;

FIG. 11a shows the one-piece closure of FIG. 10 in breakageconfiguration, i.e. with a cap portion separated from a spout portion,wherein the cap portion is coupled and attached securely to a closurebody, the latter, for example, suitable to be installed directly on thecontainer to close an access opening to the contents of the container;

FIG. 11b shows a side view of FIG. 11 a;

FIG. 11c shows a sectional view along the plane R-R of FIG. 11 b;

FIG. 11d shows an enlargement of the detail U of FIG. 11 c;

FIG. 12 schematically illustrates the partial circumferential extension(180°) of a closure membrane in accordance with the present invention,in accordance with an embodiment of the invention.

With reference to the accompanying figures, a closure according to anembodiment of the present invention is indicated collectively at 1intended for a container containing preferably fluid or semi-fluidsubstances, wherein it is important that the dispensing is controlled bythe geometry of the end portion of a spout. Preferably, the container isa generic cylindrical container or is a squeezable tube or a thin-walledflexible package, usually called a pouch.

In the case of a flexible package, preferably, the package comprises apouch consisting of two flexible front walls made of single-layer ormulti-layer film. The side edges and the lower edge may be weldedtogether or welded to a bottom and/or side panels.

The closure 1 is one piece, i.e. made of a single piece of plasticmaterial, typically by means of injection molding. The plastic materialis preferably PP, PE, PET, PA, PBS, PBT, TPE, or a compostable orbiodegradable polymeric material such as PLA.

The closure 1 comprises a closure body 3 suitable to couple with thecontainer. Preferably, the closure body comprises a thread for couplingto the container by screwing or comprises bayonet or snap-on couplingmeans.

The closure 1 comprises a spout portion 2 extending in one piece fromthe closure body 3 comprising a spout duct 30 having extension along aspout axis Z.

In particular, the spout portion 2 is penetrated internally by a spoutduct 30, coaxial to the spout axis Z, usually circular cylindrical,between an inner end, where it defines an inlet opening 36, and an outerend 37, where it defines a dispensing opening 21 of the substancecontained in the container.

When the closure 1 is intact, the cap portion 4 closes the dispensingopening 21 and is joined to the outer end 37 of the spout portion 2 bymeans of a membrane 40 of the closure 1.

Said membrane 40 is preferably placed at an outer end 37 of the spoutportion 2, lying substantially on a plane orthogonal to the spout axis Zand has a circular crown shape.

In particular, said membrane 40 extends radially internally with respectto the edge of the dispensing opening 41 defined by the extension of animaginary surface on which lies an end segment of the side surface ofthe spout duct 30.

Preferably, this edge of the dispensing opening 41 and the membrane 40are substantially flush, so as to define a surface substantially flatand perpendicular to the spout axis Z. This prevents any accumulation ofdirt around the cap portion, above the membrane. In effect, if themembrane 40 were placed on a plane arranged more internally towards thespout duct with respect to the plane on which the edge of the dispensingopening 41 lies, it would create a concavity suitable to collect dirt.In an alternative embodiment (not illustrated), the membrane lies on asurface inclined with respect to the surface whereon the edge of thedispensing opening 41 lies and protruding from the side opposite thespout duct 30, so that, in addition to preventing the accumulation ofdirt, sliding is also facilitated.

The membrane 40 is breakable by manipulating the cap portion 4; in otherwords, it has structural features, such as axial height and radialthickness, so as to break due to manipulating the cap portion 4,particularly by the bending thereof.

The membrane 40 has circumferentially a variable radial thickness Sr.

For example, the thickness Sr has a substantially constant firstthickness Sr1 for a first segment of the circumferential extension and asecond thickness Sr2 for a second segment of the circumferentialextension.

In particular, the second thickness Sr2 is greater than the firstthickness Sr1.

Preferably, moreover, between the first segment with thickness Sr1 andthe second segment with thickness Sr2 there is a transition zone T withincreasing thickness from the first thickness Sr1 to the secondthickness Sr2.

Preferably, the first segment with thickness Sr1 extends for a largepart of the circumferential extension of the membrane 40, while thesecond segment with thickness Sr2 extends for a limited predefinedlength, for example between 10% and 20% of the circumferential length orfor an angular width between 30° and 60°.

In addition, the second segment of thickness Sr2 straddles the closureline between the mold and countermold. Advantageously, this allows theimperfection on the membrane due to the mold closing line to be masked.

The cap portion 4 comprises a plug portion 41, having a predefined axialextension, suitable to close the dispensing opening 21 of the spoutportion 2 by means of relative engagement, for example by interlocking.The delivery opening 21 is exposed following the rupture of thebreakable membrane 40. In other words, once the membrane is ruptured,for example by pulling or tearing by an operator, there is a dispensingopening 21 on the exposed spout in the outer environment and intended todispense the substance contained in the container through the passagefrom the container through the spout duct 30 and to the dispensingopening 21.

The closure 1 is thus suitable to assume three configurations: an intactconfiguration, wherein the closure 1 is a single, intact piece andcompletely seals the container; a breakage configuration, wherein thecap portion 4 is separated from the spout portion 2 and wherein the capportion 4 is coupled and attached securely to the closure body or to thespout portion 2; a closed configuration, wherein the plug portion 41again seals the closure 1 (and therefore the container) due to itsengagement with the spout portion 2, and in particular by means ofinsertion in the spout duct 30, through the dispensing opening 21.

In other words, as is evident from all the embodiments shown in theaccompanying figures, in the breakage configuration, the dispensingopening 21 is open. That is to say, in the breakage configuration, whenthe cap portion 4 is coupled and attached to the closure body 4 or tothe spout portion 2 itself, the dispensing opening 21 is left open sothat one may dispense the product contained in the container, reducingthe risk of losing the cap portion 4.

Preferably, the plug portion 41 comprises at least one sealing element,for example a pair of sealing elements 44, 46 protruding from the outersurface of the plug portion 41, preferably shaped to engage sealinglywith the spout duct 30.

Preferably, the plug portion 41 consists of an annular wall 52 whichinternally delimits a plug compartment 53 and has an externalcylindrical or frusto-conical side surface.

Preferably, the plug portion 41 is directly connected to the membrane 40and may be sealingly inserted into the spout duct 30. This ensures thatthe contents of the container do not escape from the dispensing opening21.

The cap portion 4 comprises coupling means 42 suitable to be coupledwith the spout portion 2 and/or with the closure body 3, after themembrane 40 has been broken and after the cap portion 4 has been fullyseparated from the spout portion 2.

The coupling means allow the secure coupling between the cap portion 4and the spout portion 2 and/or the closure body 3. In other words,“secure coupling” means that the cap portion 4 remains attached to thespout portion 2 and/or the closure body 3 without the need for the userto intervene to keep the cap portion 4 coupled to the spout portion 2and/or the closure body 3, for example as a result of a friction bondbetween the coupled portions.

Therefore, as is evident from all the embodiments shown in theaccompanying figures, the coupling means are suitable to allow thecoupling of the cap portion 4 with the spout portion 2 and/or with theclosure body 3, leaving the dispensing opening 21 open.

In an embodiment in accordance with the invention, for example as shownin FIGS. 1 to 2 c, 6 to 8 a, 10 to 10 d, 11 to 11 d, the coupling meanscomprise shape-coupling means between the cap portion 4 and the closurebody 3. The shape-coupling means comprise, for example, a pair ofcomplementary geometries, wherein one geometry of said pair is obtainedon the cap portion and the other is obtained on the spout portion 2 oron the closure body 3.

Preferably, the shape-coupling means are interlocking couplings or shapeinterference couplings.

In another embodiment in accordance with the invention, for example asshown in FIGS. 3 to 3 a and 9 to 9 a, the coupling means comprisescrew-on coupling means between the cap portion 4 and the spout portion2.

Preferably, the cap portion 4 comprises a gripping portion 60 intendedto be manipulated by a user to remove the cap portion 4 from the spoutportion 2.

In one embodiment, for example shown in FIGS. 1 to 2 a, 6 to 8 a, 10 to11 d, the gripping portion 60 comprises a blade element 70 in which isobtained a notch 71 or a gripping portion protuberance 78 suitable tocouple with a protuberance 33 or with a seat or a notch obtained on theclosure body 3.

For example, in one embodiment, a blade element 70 comprises a pair ofside walls 72, 73 facing each other and a base wall 74 joining the sidewalls, said notch 71 being open on the side opposite the base wall 74and being suitable to couple with a respective protuberance 33projecting from a side wall 34 of the closure body 3, to store the capportion 4 while dispensing the contents of the container from thedispensing opening 21.

In one embodiment, for example shown in FIGS. 3 to 3 a, the grippingportion 60 comprises a through-hole 61, preferably provided with athread 62, suitable to screw onto a spout thread 24 made on the spoutportion 2.

In another embodiment, for example shown in FIGS. 3 to 5 i, the grippingportion 60 comprises an engagement through-hole 65 having a diametersuch that the inner surface 65′ which defines the engagementthrough-hole 65 is intended to be coupled in a secure manner with anannular groove 26 obtained on the spout portion 2.

In a further embodiment in accordance with the invention, for example asshown in FIGS. 9 and 9 a, the coupling means comprise screw-on couplingmeans between the cap portion 4 and the spout portion 2 andshape-coupling means between the cap portion 4 and the spout portion 2.In particular, the gripping portion 60 comprises a non-continuous ring,i.e. a split ring that has a circumferential interruption 67 of thecontinuity of the ring shape, such as to leave space to allow theelastic deformation of the ring so as to vary its diameter whensubjected to mechanical stress. This geometry of the gripping portion 60allows one to screw the split ring onto the spout thread 24, or to snapthe ring on by means of mechanical force from the top to the bottom onthe thread.

Innovatively, the closure according to the present invention overcomesthe drawbacks of the prior art, because after breaking the membrane itis possible to store the removed cap portion directly on the spoutportion or on the closure body without running the risk of losing thecap portion. This, on the one hand, makes it easier to use the closureand, on the other, allows the dosing spout to be reused effectively dueto the possibility of quickly closing it again.

In other words, once the cap portion 4 has been removed, due to the factthat it is possible to store it directly on the spout portion 2 and/oron the closure body 3, leaving the dispensing opening open, it followsthat it is possible to conveniently dispense the product contained inthe container through the dispensing opening, without running the riskof losing the cap portion 4.

Another advantage is represented by the maintenance of a high level ofhygiene during use, because one does not have to set down the removedcap portion (for example on a table or a counter or other support) thusavoiding contamination of the product contained in the container in thesubsequent stage of reclosing the same for a second use.

Moreover, the breakage of the membrane is advantageously facilitatedalong a first stretch, to then continue along a second stretch, due tothe presence of a membrane with variable thickness.

The separation of the cap portion from the spout portion is thusparticularly simple, especially if the cap portion is bent in thecorrect direction.

Advantageously, moreover, the container provided with the closureaccording to the invention is also safer, because, if the container isaccidentally dropped, the thicker portion of the membrane allows theblow to be cushioned.

It is apparent that, according to the present invention, in addition tobeing installed on the container to close an access opening to thecontents thereof, for example by means of a screw-on or bayonet or snapcoupling, the closure 1 may also be made in one piece with thecontainer.

It is moreover apparent that a person skilled in the art, in order tomeet contingent needs, may make changes to the closure described above,all contained within the scope of protection as defined by the followingclaims.

What is claimed is:
 1. A one-piece closure for a container, comprising:a closure body suitable for coupling to the container; a spout portionextending in one piece from the closure body and comprising a spout ducthaving extension along a spout axis (Z); and a cap portion and abreakable membrane joining the spout portion and the cap portion in asingle piece; wherein said cap portion comprises a plug portion suitablefor again closing a dispensing opening of the spout portion by arespective engagement, said dispensing opening being exposed as a resultof a rupture of the breakable membrane; wherein the cap portion furthercomprises coupling means suitable for being coupled to the spout portionand/or to the closure body, after the breakable membrane has beenruptured and after the cap portion has been fully separated from thespout portion, leaving the dispensing opening open.
 2. The one-piececlosure of claim 1, wherein the coupling means comprise shape-couplingmeans between the cap portion and the closure body.
 3. The one-piececlosure of claim 1, wherein the coupling means comprise screw-oncoupling means between the cap portion and the spout portion.
 4. Theone-piece closure of claim 1, wherein the coupling means comprisescrew-on coupling means between the cap portion and the spout portionand shape-coupling means between the cap portion and the spout portion.5. The one-piece closure of claim 2, wherein the shape-coupling meansare interlocking or shape-interference couplings.
 6. The one-piececlosure of claim 1 wherein the plug portion is directly joined to thebreakable membrane and is sealingly insertable into the spout duct. 7.The one-piece closure of claim 6, wherein said plug portion comprises atleast one sealing element, for example a pair of sealing elementsprotruding from an outer surface of the plug portion.
 8. The one-piececlosure of claim 6, wherein the plug portion consists of an annular wallinternally delimiting a plug compartment and has an external cylindricalor frusto-conical side surface.
 9. The one-piece closure of claim 1,wherein the cap portion further comprises a gripping portion intended tobe manipulated by a user to remove the cap portion from the spoutportion.
 10. The one-piece closure of claim 9, wherein the grippingportion comprises a blade element, a notch being obtained in said bladeelement, said notch comprising a pair of side walls facing each otherand a base wall joining the pair of side walls, said notch being open ona side opposite the base wall and being suitable for coupling to acorresponding protuberance projecting from a side wall of the closurebody, to store the cap portion while dispensing contents of thecontainer from the dispensing opening.
 11. The one-piece closure ofclaim 9, wherein the gripping portion comprises a through-hole suitablefor screwing onto a spout thread obtained on the spout portion.
 12. Theone-piece closure of claim 9, wherein the gripping portion comprises athrough-hole with a diameter such that an inner surface of thethrough-hole is intended to couple securely to an annular groove made onthe spout portion.
 13. The one-piece closure of claim 1, wherein saidbreakable membrane has a variable radial thickness (Sr).
 14. Theone-piece closure of claim 1, wherein the breakable membrane is placedat an outer end of the spout portion, lies substantially on a planeorthogonal to the spout axis (Z) and has a circular crown shape.
 15. Theone-piece closure of claim 1, wherein the breakable membrane extendsradially internally with respect to a perimeter edge of the dispensingopening defined by an imaginary extension of a surface on which lies anend segment of a side surface of the spout duct.
 16. The one-piececlosure of claim 15, wherein the perimeter edge of the dispensingopening and the breakable membrane are substantially flush, so as todefine a surface substantially flat and perpendicular to the spout axis(Z), or wherein the breakable membrane lies on a surface inclined withrespect to the surface on which lies the edge of the dispensing openingand protruding externally and on a side opposite the spout duct.
 17. Theone-piece closure of claim 1, wherein the breakable membrane has a firstcircumferential segment having a first constant thickness (Sr1) and asecond circumferential segment having a second thickness (Sr2), whereinthe second thickness (Sr2) is greater than the first constant thickness(Sr1) (Sr2>Sr1).
 18. The one-piece closure of claim 17, wherein atransition zone lying between the first circumferential segment and thesecond circumferential segment has an increasing thickness from thefirst constant thickness (Sr1) to the second thickness (Sr2).
 19. Acontainer comprising the one-piece closure of claim
 1. 20. The one-piececlosure of claim 11, wherein the through-hole is a threadedthrough-hole.
 21. The one-piece closure of claim 1, wherein the closurebody is suitable for coupling to the container by a screw-on or bayonetcoupling.